Cyber-Vetting: Is It Happening to You?

The fact that a lot of information is available about you online in various places might not be news to you. You might even know or suspect that employers check you out online after you apply to them. However, you might not know the extent of what is or can be done and its potential impact on your job search and chances for desirable employment. Technology is a two-edged sword: used wisely, it can be your friend; not wisely, your enemy.

Yves Lermusi, head of a company called Checkster, wrote an article in September 2011 called “Cyber-vetting’s Usage, Risk, and Future.” The article focused on cyber-vetting from an employer’s perspective, but you might want to pay attention from a job seeker’s perspective–whether you’re currently conducting a job search or might be in the future.

According to Mr. Lermusi, around 80% of employers currently search and track candidates’ online activities when they’re considering hiring someone. This includes online forums you participate in (ask and answer questions, etc.).

One problem Mr. Lermusi mentioned with cyber-vetting is that it can be done without your knowledge and can provide employers with access to data that leads to discrimination.

Here’s a quote from the article that might give you something more to think about: “Cyber-vetting will be used more and more by organizations, first to avoid surprises, and more as a digital background and fact-checking tool. Second, it will be used as a way to assess the expertise, motivation, and in some aspects the character of the candidates. Finally, it will expand into leveraging the collective intelligence that social network contains. We know that even if HR does not perform cyber-vetting, or admit to doing so, hiring managers will.”

This is definitely one of those situations where ignorance is not bliss. High-tech tools are increasing in sophistication and availability, and they will be used. The question is, will they be used for/by you or against you? At least to some extent, that’s up to you–how you manage your career, your job search and, ultimately, your life.